Selectboard Meeting Minutes

Minutes of 10/15/2024

October 15th, 2024

Carroll Board of Selectmen
Meeting of the Select Board
Meeting Minutes
October 15th, 2024

“These minutes of the Town of Carroll Select Board have been recorded by its Secretary. Though believed to be accurate and correct they are subject to additions, deletions, and corrections by the Select Board at its next meeting when the Board votes its final approval of the minutes. They are being made available at this time to conform to the requirements of New Hampshire RSA 91-A:2.”

Minutes recorded by: Meg Basnar
Board Members: Bonnie Moroney, John Greer, Jules Marquis
Members of the Public: Brian Mycko, Bobbi Amirault, Imre Szauter, Ben Jellison, Nanci Mitiguy

Meeting called to order at 5:00 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance

Signing of bills and manifests completed prior to this meeting.

The minutes of 10/8/2024 were not completed due to the office closure on Monday and will be approved at the next Select Board meeting, scheduled for October 29th, 2024.

The Select Board was presented with a Driveway Permit for Long View Drive. Selectperson Moroney made a motion to approve and have the Chairman sign. Selectman Marquis seconded. All in favor, none opposed. Motion to approve and have the Chairman sign passed.

The Select Board was presented with the Health Trust Benefits Renewal Packet for 2025. Selectperson Moroney made a motion to approve and have the Chairman sign. Selectman Marquis seconded. Chairman Greer asked how much rates have increased for 2025. Selectman’s Assistant informed 4.1% increase from 2024 to 2025. All in favor, none opposed. Motion to approve and have the Chairman sign Health Trust Benefits Renewal Packet for 2025 passed.

Chairman Greer recognized Moderator Ben Jellison who provided information on the price of the new voting tabulator and requested permission from the Select Board to proceed with the purchase in 2024. Jellison informed that the State would cover $3,500 of the cost of the new tabulator, and clarified this machine is not a voting machine, it is used to tabulate votes. Total cost including support and training was quoted at $8,000. Jellison stated the funds should come from the Election & Registration budget line for ballot counting equipment and there will need to be another vote from the Select Board when it is time to change to the new tabulator. Selectperson Moroney motioned to allow Jellison to move forward with the purchase of the new tabulator. Selectman Marquis seconded. All in favor, none opposed. Motion to allow Moderator Jellison to move forward with the purchase of the new tabulator passed. Jellison stated he will order the new tabulator and provide the Selectman’s Assistant with the invoice for payment.

Selectperson Moroney asked Jellison for any information from White Mountain Regional High School (WMRHS) regarding the tax rate. Jellison informed that at the last meeting on October 10th the School Board voted to retain the balance and advised the Select Board that they should see tax rates soon. Jellison stated he would follow up with the Superintendent at the next School Board meeting scheduled for October 17th. The School Board will also be holding a meeting in the Carroll Town Hall Community Room at 6pm on November 21st.


BUDGET PRESENTATIONS
Chairman Greer recognized Selectman’s Assistant Meg Basnar who presented the 2025 proposed budgets for all general, executive, administrative, insurance, welfare and financial.

Selectman’s Assistant Meg Basnar informed that some of the information needed to complete the budget has not yet been provided to the office, so she will update the Select Board when more information becomes available. Basnar informed on adjustments to staff wages for admin, Land Use and rental admin lines, with a reduction in the proposed amount for overtime and Administrative Assistant. Basnar informed the cost of the yearly audit increased by $825, and requested an increase in the line for office supplies by $1,500 as it now covers supplies for all departments and committees aside from water. Basnar informed the Select Board that the line for legal expenses for 2025 needs to be determined by the Select Board. Selectperson Moroney suggested reducing that line from $60,000 as approved in 2024 to $40,000 for 2025. Chairman Greer suggested keeping the line at $60,000 for 2025. Selectman Marquis motioned to accept a proposed $50,000 for legal expenses for 2025. Selectperson Moroney seconded. Following discussion all were in favor, none opposed. Motion to accept a proposed $50,000 for legal expenses passed. Regarding Employee Insurance Basnar informed she is still waiting on rates for 2025 from Met Life and expects them by the end of October. Basnar informed Health Trust rates went up 4.1% for 2025. Basnar also informed that the Select Board needed to determine the amount of funds to allocate to the Direct Assistance line, and reported the 2024 budget had an approved line of $15,000 and as of 10/15/2024 only $113.93 had been spent. Selectperson Moroney proposed $15,000 for this line in 2025. Selectman Marquis seconded. All in favor, none opposed. Regarding expected principal and interest for 2025 Basnar informed she is currently waiting on additional information from Bank of NH before these lines can be determined.

FOLLOW UP

Chairman Greer provided an update on the siding work on the Town Hall, and informed the workers would be evaluating the need to address the siding on the Public Safety Building next week.

Chairman Greer recognized Bobbi Amirault who asked about the installation of the sign for the Town Hall, Library and Public Safety Building on behalf of the Garden Club. Selectperson Moroney informed the Director of Public Works is working with Granite State Sign to coordinate the installation and anticipates installation in the next couple weeks.

OTHER
Chairman Greer recognized Selectperson Moroney who brought up the issue of private roads. Moroney requested the Select Board add the topic of private roads to follow up for the next Select Board meeting to determine what the status is of this since sending letters to residents of private roads regarding maintenance of the roads. Selectman’s Assistant informed this will be added to the agenda for the 10/29/2024 meeting.

Selectperson Moroney asked about the progress of the LED streetlights and asked the Vice Chair of the Energy Commission Imre Szauter if all the lights in town would be replaced. Szauter reported that the contract following the audit & verification process included replacing 123 street lights and 2 high-intensity flood lights, for a total of 125 lights. Szauter reported an update from Affinity LED who hopes to deliver the equipment to the town garage next week for storage and expects installation to happen mid-November. Szauter reported the 3-month delay was due to Eversource reconciling the results of the audit. Szauter reported the only lights that will not be replaced are those on privately owned roads.

Chairman Greer recognized Ben Jellison who asked about Fidium availability in Carroll. Jellison reported Fidium is available in surrounding towns but not available in Carroll and asked if the Select Board had any knowledge on this topic. Brian Mycko reported he was informed that Fidium looked and saw the town had fiber because they mistakenly looked at Bretton Woods. Mycko states he is currently on the list. The Select Board reported this was nothing they had knowledge of and was not the result of any agreements made by this board.

Chairman Greer recognized Imre Szauter who informed that the Energy Commission has a meeting tomorrow with NH Department of Energy to complete a free audit of the town’s water infrastructure. They will be joined by the president of Wright-Pierce, who has been hired by the town to provide recommendations on improvements. Szauter informed this is an open meeting and all who are interested are welcome to attend.

Chairman Greer asked about any updates regarding the damage to Poplar Lane and the letter sent by the Select Board. Selectman’s Assistant informed there were no updates since the last meeting. Chairman Greer stated he felt another letter needed to be sent to the property owner who is responsible for the damage. Selectman Marquis motioned to allow Chairman Greer to write a letter to the property owner. Selectman’s Assistant informed she would provide all the information regarding the status of communication currently. Selectperson Moroney seconded. All in favor, none opposed. Motion to allow Chairman Greer to write a letter to the property owner responsible for the damage to Poplar Drive passed. Chairman Greer provided information to those in attendance regarding the status of the damage.

At 5:38 p.m. Chairman Greer made a motion to enter non-public for legal. Selectperson Moroney seconded, roll call vote to enter non-public for legal passed unanimously.

At 5:49 p.m. Selectperson Moroney made a motion to leave non-public and return to public. Selectman Marquis seconded. All in favor, none opposed. Motion to return to public session passed.

At 5:49 p.m. Selectperson Moroney made a motion to seal the minutes. Selectman Marquis seconded. Roll call vote to seal the minutes passed unanimously.

Selectperson Moroney made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Selectman Marquis seconded. All in favor, none opposed. Motion to adjourn passed at 5:50 p.m.

Next meeting of the Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday October 29th, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Carroll Town Hall.